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Re: Electric Cooling Fan For Spitfire (fwd)

To: Triumphs <triumphs@Autox.Team.Net>
Subject: Re: Electric Cooling Fan For Spitfire (fwd)
From: Michael Burdick <mburdick@netserv.unmc.edu>
Date: Mon, 2 Jun 1997 13:30:52 -0500 (CDT)
On Mon, 2 Jun 1997, Barry H. Adams wrote:

> My 74 Spitfire (1500) runs hot in stop and go traffic (its fine on the open
> road).  I've done the usual things to lower the temp (re-cored radiator,
> replaced thermostat, put water wetter in coolant, etc) all this has helped
> a little, but it still, gets hot in traffic.
> 
> Will an electric cooling fan help?  

It might, but before you put one on, are your engine valences in place?
The ones in front of the radiator especially.  If they are missing, you
are probably not getting anywhere near maximum airflow through the
radiator.

I had an electric fan for awhile on my Spit and liked it.  The main
benefit I saw was I could take the stock fan off the water pump - I don't
think it actually improved cooling much.  I only took it off because the
car got hit in front and the fan was damaged.

One thing I have done is install an oil cooler with a thermostat in the
adapter plate (got it from TriumphTune/Moss U.K.).  Since installing it,
my temp. guage has never gone past half-scale, even in stop-and-go summer
traffic. I have recently heard comments attributed to John Kipping saying
that oil coolers are not necessary and are actually a BAD THING (engine
oil runs TOO cool) so keep that in mind.  My car seems to come up to
temperature quickly though, so maybe the thermostatic base plate makes a
difference.  Also, I can't help but think that the operating environment
my car sees is quite different than that experienced by the cars John
Kipping sees (he is in Coventry, I'm in the Midwest USA).  However, he is
quite knowledgable about these cars so I can't just dismiss his comments! 

> this a good (efficient) fan?  Also, should the fan be controlled by an
> adjustable thermostat, or a manual switch?

Mine was thermostatically controlled and this is the way to go,
especially if you remove the stock fan.  Chris Kantarjiev recently posted
a great article on installing fans.  Before you plunk down your money, I
would recommend reading this.  I could probably dig it up if you don't
have it.

Good luck,
Mike Burdick
'70 Spit
Omaha NE



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